What is the best crab pot, and why?

[sled]

  I am just getting back into crabbing now this year.  I figure I'll stock up on some decent gear this winter.
  What kind of pots are you running and why?

  Thanks for the info.

[The scout]

Danielson. cheap and they work. not out much if someone decides they need it more than you

[coachcw]

I have some i bought a few years ago at the sportsman show the guy was from port angles . they flat fish . bait loads fron the top and they have a center weight with a side harness so they lay flat. Whit has them on his boat now maybe he can post a pick . if any one knows the guy we want more .

[kenzmad]

I have some i bought a few years ago at the sportsman show the guy was from port angles . they flat fish . bait loads fron the top and they have a center weight with a side harness so they lay flat. Whit has them on his boat now maybe he can post a pick . if any one knows the guy we want more .

I will 2nd that . He had en out when we were fishing and every pull had 15+ crab in it. I am searching for these as well.

[sled]

Tried to google, but nothing...

[chester]

Willapa marine sells the round pots with line ,baitbox ,crab checker and all. I have a couple of them. They work pretty well


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Birdguy]

The one in the water! Because mine have been in the shop all year and they have not caught much 

[coachcw]

I'm thinking of  reverse engineering  them and building some.

[Dan-o]

We just fish the cheap 2' X 2' square pots and they work fine.

The one thing I won't do again is buy the cheap square pots that don't have a big loading door up top.  That makes all the difference for ease/comfort of loading/unloading.

[FWilliams]

cheap danielsons out fish every other one I have purchased......I have a couple fairly expensive round shaped ones that load from the top, that I would give you jut to get them out of the shop, I will try and get pics of them tomorrow, their damn near new.

[Buckmark]

I/we run 4 different kids of pots and the danielson 24x24x12 pots crab the best IMHO, I have some large octagon pots that are built real well, easy to load and get the crab out but they are only really good for long soaks like overnight, same with the round pots i have, easy to get into and only have 2 gates, if they go in they cannot get out but again best for long soaks.
The danelisons crab the best either short soaks or even over night, 4 gates easy to get in, i zip tie 3 sides and bend the hooks on the other open and secure it with a bungee for easy access. The key is to use large bait boxes or the bait bags and load them up.

Cheap and they really work, add weight if you crab in strong current areas.
Dougs boats in woodinville has a pot, 100ft lead line and a float for 38 bucks, great deal.....

[lokidog]

As mentioned the square Danielsons work well.  I would second the bungie on the gate instead of relying on the built in hooks.  Most of the newer ones seem to have the plastic rings for the gates to swing on, much better than the old style bent hooks.

I have had best luck this year though with two smaller round ones that I am really liking.  They load from the top and have more than two gates.

I have also tried a $140 SS big round pot that someone gave me but it does not seem to fish as well as the cheaper ones.  It has ramps that go up to the gates and I think these don't work as well as the gates on the bottom edge.

[Whitpirate]

I have some i bought a few years ago at the sportsman show the guy was from port angles . they flat fish . bait loads fron the top and they have a center weight with a side harness so they lay flat. Whit has them on his boat now maybe he can post a pick . if any one knows the guy we want more .

These.... work really well.  I'd love to run 6.

[fisheral87]

Does the yellow bait cylinder come out?

Looks like a good system.

Al

[lokidog]

If it is like shrimp pots with bait cylinders, no, but I have not seen these crab pots.

[Rick]

Danielson

[j_h_nimrod]

Does the yellow bait cylinder come out?

Looks like a good system.

Al

No, there is a hatch to to fill it. Could take it out if you felt like it.

[j_h_nimrod]

Custom built pyramid pots are the best out of dozens I have owned over the years. We used to run the side-by-side with Danielson squares and commercial rounds and they would, with RARE exception, fish significantly better. Plus with these pots you don't need to mess with escape gates or entry gates. They also nest and, if rigged right, work as shrimp pots.

[lokidog]

I have also tried a $140 SS big round pot that someone gave me but it does not seem to fish as well as the cheaper ones.  It has ramps that go up to the gates and I think these don't work as well as the gates on the bottom edge.

Guess I have to take this back, day old bait and I had 6 legals in it including two at 7 1/4 inches.     It's probably more about location than anything else.

[sled]

I bought two of the danielson black square pots at Walmart tonight for 19.98 each. 

[fisheral87]

Those pagoda pots kill the bejesus outta Spot Prawns.

Al

[Stein]

Here is my theory - they all catch crab just about equally well.  The cheapy ones are harder to fish and need to have weight added as well as something to hold the bait.  They also only last a few years and the doors occasionally stick open unless you add weight to those as well.

The more expensive pots last longer and are more "set it and forget it". 

By the time you tune the cheap ones and factor for early replacements, you are better off with something that is built better.

But, if you are the guy who doesn't have a fishfinder and throws the whole thing overboard while still on a plane, the cheap ones are cheaper to lose.

[L-ofalab]

I bought two of the danielson black square pots at Walmart tonight for 19.98 each.

Around Christmas I got them for $9.99 They have glow in the dark bait cages, doors, and the bait cage drops in from the top. Nice design.

[rasbo]

Mckay in brinnon makes killer pots if they are still around